Great Gifts To Make

July 12, 2019

Someone just contacted me via the watermark on this photo, saying she saw the project on Pinterest, and the photo took her somewhere that did not link to my original post. She then couldn't find this project in my archives. Since she took the time to write to me, I figured I'd have a look in the archives! So I dug way way down and dusted off this sweet crochet project that is perfect for summer, and a great project for beginners with fantastic results. Enjoy, and make a bunch while you are at it, as it's always great to have some homemade gifts on hand, right?

Super simple crocheted coasters with rows of color applied on the surface, also with a crochet hook, are so fun to make! I haven't actually crocheted coasters in the past, as I don't have much use for them, but I realized that they would be a useful gift for a certain loved one who does have an antique wooden breakfast table. So these simple coasters were born, and sent off and I've already made another set for myself, which I'll share with you soon.

June 17, 2019

Making mini cardboard t-shirts is so much fun, I realized that if one makes say 24, 36, or 48 or any even number for that matter, you can easily whip up your own custom memory game! And making a memory game for a special occasion, especially if there will be kids (or grown ups who like to play games) on hand is such a fun way to make the get together even more fun and memorable. If you really want to go all out, you could even make custom memory games as party favors! Cover your mini t-shirts with family birthdays, little drawings, sayings everyone loves or go simple and draw flowers, plants and other patterns, like I have. And to add an activity to your party, you can even have guests create pairs of matching shirts when they arrive, which would also be fun! Are you ready? Lets make our own matching game with symbols and words that have extra special meaning for us!

May 23, 2019

I love t-shirt yarn, and have been thinking about using it for macrame and embroidery, not just crocheting! Industrial-waste t-shirt yarn also supports eco consciousness, as it is made from odds and ends of fabric left after the pieces for making clothing is cut from the yardage. What I found after making these fringed and embroidered placemats/wall hangings is that t-shirt yarn is a great way to add color to a project that might have called for rope of some kind, and it works great for fringe, tassels (see my t-shirt yarn tassels) and more. So if you're looking for a simple and stylish summer project, this is it! These placemats work great placed on round side tables or outdoor tables or anywhere to add some flare our protect a wooden surface. Ah yes, and of course you can easily make some wall hangings, which I truly am going to do as I have a bunch more of these placemats to craft with!

May 22, 2019

Ever thought about embroidering with t-shirt yarn? I am always looking for ways to do intricate yet lovely crafts in a quicker way, so embroidery with t-shirt yarn is certainly one way to do that, right? With ethnic wall hangings and baskets still popular in the home decor arena, now is the perfect time to make some fun summer accessories for your home, with some t-shirt yarn and some woven placemats or baskets. I actually made the example here as a wall hanging, though it has not yet made it to the wall, it is propped up on a bedside table under a window for now, and maybe forever until I make something new! Okay, ready for a few tips to get those creative gears turning? Read on......

February 22, 2019

Now that you know how to make adorable play cupcakes, let's make some things to use in a play kitchen. And of course you don't need an actual play kitchen, little ones can make that part up themselves. Add a cute t-shirt yarn dishtowel to the set up and maybe some wooden utensils, and let the imagination take them for a ride. No, I won't be letting anyone play with my new pink casseroles that I got recently for small change at 80% off, but they sure do complete the picture! And actually some pink casseroles like these would be simple to crochet with t-shirt yarn, okay, I guess I do need to go out and buy some more yarn (which I've been avoiding), as I think I need to take my own advice, it will be perfect. Lest I digress, we are here to learn how to crochet a play dishtowel from t-shirt yarn, so lets get started! Ah yes, and I might add that yes this is much thicker than a dish towel would be, but washes really well and can be used as a doll blanket or even a rug, which makes it super versatile for imaginative play.

January 29, 2019

It is true I may have missed the boat when it comes to the crocheted cactus trend, as I actually started this cactus back in July 2017, but truthfully after finally completing my first crocheted cactus and enjoying it a bit in my dining room, I think this is a trend that is worth keeping around. And if you follow my tutorial for making this crocheted cactus, you'll realize that this is actually a quick and simple crocheted cactus, and oh so simple to whip up! Better yet, whip up a whole collection and you'll be so happy you did, no water or light needed for you new garden, just some crocheting! And the great thing about this pattern is that you can use it to make cacti of all sizes, tall, wide, short, you name it! Okay, lets get crocheting!

January 16, 2019

I needed an adorable handmade gift for a sweet three year old girl who loves her "babies" and this crocheted doll bassinet usingt-shirt yarn seemed simple enough, and with great results, so why not give it a try? And, great news, the gift was received with much excitement, and the little three year old told me "I told you to give me this" meaning "this is exactly what I wanted, though I didn't know I wanted it." Soooooo, fellow crocheters, give this project a try, it is really quite simple, and you too can delight a little baby doll lover in your life. And of course while you are at it, don't forget to make a simple no-sew fleece doll blanket to complete the gift! Ah yes, and just by the way, this was crocheted with t-shirt yarn and a relatively smal hook (6.5mm) but you could also crochet this pattern using cotton rope, which would be great as well. I love that the t-shirt yarn bassinet is machine washable, which will likely be necessary after carrying around all those baby dolls! Okay, lets get crocheting.....

June 22, 2018

Remember making candles at summer camp? I sure do, especially the ones we made at the beach in milk cartons! Candle making can be on the messy side, but is a perfect craft to do especially when you have a few hours on a lazy summer afternoon, and a bunch of kids (or kids at heart) in need of some creative fun! The candles you see here were actually made by some of my students in a candle making workshop for which I was the substitute teacher. Unfortunately I did not have the time to take photos of all the projects as my students stayed for two hours rather than one, and then needed to hurry off to their bus, so be it! Now I'm hoping to find some time to make some striped candles myself. I'm thinking that a remake of my remember Jerusalem sand jars would be perfect with striped candles, just in time for the Three Weeks.

Ah yes, and best of all, making candles has never been simpler, so lets get started!

December 18, 2017

This evening we lit the 7th cup of oil on our Hanukkah menorah, and that means that there are still two full days of Hanukkah, and certainly time to squeeze in one last activity that everyone is sure to enjoy: DIY spinning tops made from strips of paper and toothpicks! These tops might be little, but they sure do spin, and if made correctly, they can spin for quite a long time. And whether of not they spin well, they sure are great looking! So get out the simple supplies and have a little crafting fest to end Hanukkah on a creative note! Ready, let's get spinning!

December 07, 2017

Wool felt is a truly wonderful material available in a nice range of luscious rich colors, can be purchased in 12"x12" squares, and since it doesn't unravel, you can craft away to your heart's content without the need for glue or sewing, if you so desire. This DIY felt mug cozy is quick and would make a wonderful gift this holiday season, together of course with some lovely mugs! I have added the Hanukkah themed details to my mug cozies using felting, with a multiple needle felting tool and a felting pad, though one can also of course add embroidery, or attach shapes with embroidery, or even add a few lovely beads or buttons.

A coffee cup cozy for paper coffee cups would be made in exactly the same way, and even if you don't know the exact size of the cup you could make your cozy on the small side and use an elastic chord loop instead of a button hole. Got it? Now go make a bunch, maybe even with the felted initials of the recipient, as these work up really quickly!